National Republican., 1887-12-10
COURSE OF STUDY.
OUTLINE OF THE SYSTEM SUBMITTED
BY SUPERINTENDENT POWELL.
The Unit OF Work TO Train-Pupiis "a
Express Groups or Bodies OF Associate
Thought by Connected Discourse
Admirable Results OF the Plan.

Last September the members OF the
board Of school trustees saw great me-
cessity for course Of study to be adopted
for the schools. Frequent consultations
were had, and finally q resolution was
adopted authorizing the committee on text
books, studies, &C., TO prepare the same.
Superintendent Powell was thereupon
asked 10 form part Of the committee to
attain the ends In view. The superia-
tendent expressed such clear ideas about
the matter that at the request Of the COM
mittee he was invited 10 write out the
scheme. On the evening Of Oct 81 the COM
mittee presented the labors Of the official be-
fore the board, and the course was so thor
ough, practical, and sepsible that It was
adopted by unanimous vote. Arcsolution
was also adopted authorizing the publication
Of 1000 copies Of the course OF study. This
has been done and the same is presented,
In book form, covering 102 pages. 1t
would be impossible to give q satisfactory
synopsis OF the plan Of instruction adopted,
as the work enters into minute details OF
school matters. There is a thoroughness
In the work that Is commendable, and the
features In II are so prominent that the
teachers cannot fail to find In the sugges-
tions ready helps.
Mr.. Powell in his introduction makes
suggestions to the teachers respecting the
warmth and purity OF the air In the school
room, and cautions them against the great
danger OF imperiliDg the little ones health
by allowing them to sit In drafts. He does
not believe In allowing children to remain
in school with wet feet, nor does he think
II permissible that pupils should be sent
away from school for any cause when the
weather Is inclement. He advises the
teachers at half-hour intervals to give their
scholars free gymnastics for few minutes,
at which time the air OF the school room
should be changed by opening doors or win
dowe, or both. The first year is devoted to
training pupils to express groups or bodies
Of associate thought In connected discourse
The pupil is lead to see the thought and
It's arrangement, and then helped to express
1t as arranged. As the minds OF the tender
ones are strengthened they are to be led to
see forms Of simple words, and to under
stand the meanings Of such forms. The
uses Of "is," "this," zap aud such words
are taught. In manual training and draw
ing the work consists in clay OF drawing
lines, of stick laying, OF paper folding, aud
geometric solids, and are for the purpose Of
developing in the minds Of the children q
true conception Of the geometric solids by
observing them and by making them. The
great object in view for this year Is to
train the pupil in three things--seeing,
talking, and writing. Music forms a
theme which is treated with great consider
| alton.
Passing into the second year the system
| Of training to see and express what is seen
| in idiomatic English connectedly is con-
| tinued and gradually enlarged. The third
| year the children are to be trained to repro
duce stories and descriptions and to write
letters. In the fourth and fifth years, COM
position, both oral and written, is given a
really begins. Reading also is given q
| higher range. The studies Of grammar,
| geography, history, and arithmetic from
text books really commence with the third
year. These, Of course, are touched upon in
general way during the first two years, but
only In very simple and easy manner. In
the fifth year fractions, common and deci.
vancement In the higher forms OF arithmetic
begins with the seventh year and ends with
the eighth year. Algebra forms the leading
mathematical study Of the last year. Greal
Lstress is laid on map drawing, which begins
with the third year. Flat and raised sur.
fsee mapssn the are ads tstms thus
Imaginary Journeys are traced on ,tht
water, thus familiarizing the eye and the
ear with the names Of countries, states
cities, rivers, &c. In this way up to the
finishing grade of the eighth year the mind
is systematically trained and the memory
strengthened, with but little trouble, and
at the same time o vast amount Of informa
ton is obtained. The sixth year ushers II
the study Of United States history, which
covers three periods-discovery, settlement
and civilization. Geography is made
companion throughout this and succeeding
years In the study of this history. Thi
history Of this nation Is concluded in til,
seventh year, and the eighth year takes uI
the study Of The constitution and genera
study Of the conditions OF the country, 1t
rise and progress, and industries and I'm
proyements.
The minor studies Of the different year
are arranged so that they fall In line witt
the system. The rough outline given simpl,
illustrates the idea of Superintendent Pow
ell, who ia q firm believer In training tn
mind by illustration and making the chill
dren learn to think for themselves by be
ginning with the first year and continuing
II through the succeeding years. So far th
system has worked admirably, and, Will
the teacher ia forced to study and think a
well as the pupil, both find 1t to be YER
useful and beneficial. 1t is system tha
will be we'll liked by the parent and ad
mired by the friend of the public school
when It win have been seen and its result
/